Amazing Race's Ron and Christina: We Were Very Aware of Our Physical Limitationsby Joyce Eng

A spiritual quest for sadhus (or holy men) on The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business led Ron Hsu astray as he erroneously wandered the Ganges River waterfront for hours. "It took over an hour and a half to realize that mistake," he tells TVGuide.com. "I still felt we had a glimmer of hope because the cowboys were on a later flight. I thought, 'The cowboys could mess up like they did in Australia and other teams might mess up too.'" Alas, no one else made any mistakes, and Ron and daughter Christina got the boot. Find out how Ron got so lost, why they took the water taxi and why he was so hungry in China. Plus: Would Christina ever run the Race with her new husband and Season 12 alum Azaria Azene?

Ron, how long did the Roadblock take you?Ron: I lost track of time, but I felt like it was a couple of hours. I took the wrong road and I over-thought. I took the wrong street and found one sadhu right on the riverbanks, which they called the Ghat, and then I said, "Oh, yeah, the holy men are generally by the holy river of the Ganges," so I traversed back and forth from one end of the Ganges to the other when I should've gone back to my original starting point and taken a different road.

Some other Racers worked together. Why didn't you pair up with anyone?Ron: Well, my downfall was taking the wrong road initially because I was told by locals that was the direction to the Ghat that we were on. Taking that road, I saw a few, what I consider, holy men, but they were not the ones that we had to find. So because I was on wrong road, I didn't see any other Racers. I should've at that point retraced my steps, but I said, "Well, if I'm on this road, maybe this is a difficult challenge where I have to go further down." It was reinforced by other sadhus I found by the river, but I should've gone back up. ... I did think of teaming up. That would've been a good idea had I seen any of the other Racers, but I didn't.

Why did you think the sadhus were taking a bath?Ron: I thought that they were cleansing because the Ganges is considered a holy place in India and people want to cleanse their sins in it. So sadhus are there and people are congregating there to purify themselves. And I did find a lot of sadhus down there, but not the ones I was supposed to look for!

Christina, what was going through your mind while you were waiting?Christina: I just wanted us to do our best. Whenever you're waiting for another teammate, you're just hoping that they're doing well. I think going into the experience, my dad and I just wanted to have a good time together. When the cowboys showed up, it added a little bit of anxiety. ... It was tough when the cowboys had left, but my dad didn't come back too long afterward. In a case like that, you can tell the leg will be pretty quick and it's more about speed, and my dad and I were very aware of our physical limitations. We're not as quick as the cowboys and would have a hard time not just catching them, but passing them. But it was fine. We were happy when he got back.

You picked the quicker Detour. Did you have a feeling from the clue it would be faster?Christina: We actually really thought about that one a lot because we knew we were last, so we read the clues and we thought feeding the buffalo would be faster. We chose the right Detour and we never gave up. I think it's easy when you're at the bottom of the pace to give up, but we wanted to experience Varanasi as much as we could.

You took the water taxi to the Pit Stop, which was apparently the slower option. How long did that take?Ron: I think about half an hour. They had a speed limit on the Ganges River and we didn't realize that. We asked him to go fast, but evidently they had restricted speed limits, so they went at their regular speed that we considered too slow.

And you didn't think of jumping out like Vyxsin did?Christina: [Laughs] No! I couldn't believe that when we saw it! We were told after asking around that the water taxi would be the fastest way to Ramnagar Fort. You know, the Race is a lot about luck and maybe the water taxi wasn't the fastest, but we trusted the people we asked, and that's just our luck. ... I don't know if [we would've beaten the goths if we took a cab]. We were told we weren't too far behind. They did the longer Detour, so it's very possible.

Ron, you were very temperamental in the early episodes, but seemed to calm down from China on. What happened? Did you get used to racing conditions?Ron: I think so. There was less sleep deprivation. Basically, I had a full belly of food in my system, so I think I calmed quite a bit. The Race means a lot to me and I just wanted to make sure I didn't disappoint Christina.

Why were you so hungry in China?Ron: [Laughs] Just the smell and the way the food is prepared and how economical it is, relative to other places. Compared to Japan, it was a bargain to buy good-cooked street food in China. Even the small little fishies taste great!

Christina, I hear you and Azaria got married last month. Congratulations!Christina: Thanks! I was lucky and so blessed to have my parents walk me down the aisle. So yeah, I'm married now and couldn't be happier. Married life is great!

Would you run the Race again with Azaria?Christina: [Laughs] Yeah, in a heartbeat. My dad and I would definitely race again, and Azaria and I would definitely jump at the opportunity too. We really love and respect the Race. We have that competitive spirit and love for traveling, so absolutely.

Although Ron’s seemingly endless quest for the meaning of life in India ultimately cost him and daughter Christina their lives on “The Amazing Race” Sunday night, the often temperamental dad shared a surprisingly zen philosophy about their elimination during a call Monday. “I just appreciate this grand opportunity to spend time with my daughter before she got married. It was really truly a gift,” he said. Below, the two discuss their hardest challenge this season, why they credit the show with improving their relationship, and how Christina found her husband Azaria (they married earlier this Spring) on the Race.

On where they watched Sunday’s episode [Christina was in Washington D.C.; Ron was in Tacoma, Wash.]:

Christina: I watched with family and friends and so did my dad. We call each other after every episode. [Last night] I just said “I’m proud of you.” My dad and I raced for the experience. It just brought back such happy memories of us traveling together, despite the elimination. Varanasi [India] was beautiful chaos.

Ron: It was a wonderful experience. Even though it was disappointing to be eliminated, and all the smells and sights and frustrations all came back in one big emotion, it was wonderful to see it with our family. I sort of relived the whole woulda coulda shoulda, and I knew that my downfall was spending too much time on the river Ganges, where I thought the holy men should be. It was frustrating to see that, but nevertheless I saw little snippets where even though I was racing intensely, I said “Hey, I enjoyed asking this guy, because he has colorful garb on,” and the smells and everything just came back. It was a mixed emotion, but most of it was happy memories.

On whether they confronted the Globetrotters about their misplaced fanny packs:

Christina: It was totally smoothed over. We’d gotten to the mat, and it was not a big deal. The Globetrotters were our friends before and after the incident. It was a huge misunderstanding. We talked with them on our way to China and we were all just like, “We’re all so sleep deprived.” It was fine. There wasn’t really a confrontation. When we checked into the Pit Stop, we had no idea they would get a penalty. We would have never ever wished that upon them. It was funny watching it because the reality is we’re really good friends with them.

On their least favorite challenge this season:

Ron: In hindsight I should have taken that dinosaur challenge because Christina was the shortest and the lightest person there. That was very difficult for me to see her.

Christina: No regrets, but I think that waterfall was really tough. I definitely felt like there was a point where I couldn’t breathe under it. I was told later that that’s the first sign of hypothermia. It was so cold. The Race this time around was physically more demanding and exhausting.

Ron: That was tough. It was like twenty-five pounds of rocks on my bald head!

On why they decided to return for a second time in light of Ron’s recent back surgery:

Ron: I was sort of a bionic person with a fused back. But I walked without any pain. I know I’m not as physically fit as the younger Racers, but it was an opportunity to be with Christina right before she got married – to travel around the world and bond with my daughter. We only see each other once or twice a year; she lives three thousand miles away. I had such a neat time, being there 24/7 with her. We were lucky to be on.

Christina: We accepted in a heartbeat. For us, it’s always been about the experience. Of course winning is great, and we always have our eye on the prize – we have that competitive spirit. But we’re never going to compromise who we are because of the Race. What ultimately led us to the Race in the very beginning was just a love for travel. My parents have instilled that in me and my sister. Absolutely, even though we don’t spend that much time in each city, seeing new places, smelling new smells, and meeting new people is really a hobby of ours. I saw sides of him I’ve never seen. He was a really fun partner. It was awesome. We were cognizant of his health, and he insured me he was physically safe.

On Christina’s wedding to former Racer Azaria:

Christina: Earlier this Spring we got hitched. I was so proud and blessed to have my parents walk me down the aisle. It was really a beautiful, emotional moment. We didn’t have anything “Amazing Race”-themed at the wedding, but there was no avoiding how we met! It’s funny – Azaria and I met as competitors. There’s no way that three years ago when we first met we would have thought we’d be where we are now. But he’s my best friend and we’re just so happy together. It’s kind of crazy, but when you know, you know.

Ron: We’re so grateful for the Race. Christina had the opportunity to meet her soul mate. They’re a wonderful family.

Christina: Azaria and I were just friends on the show. I was actually a lot closer with Hendekea [his sister]. We talked on the phone more. But it wasn’t until after the Race aired, Azaria and I started clicking. It was long distance for a while. But when your conversations start going from twenty minutes to four hours, you kind of wonder, Maybe there’s something here. Having my dad there – although it sounds weird – was a blessing in disguise. Azaria and Hendekea were a team we gravitated toward because we shared the same family values. They were also there for the sheer fun of it – not fame. We really bonded over enjoying seeing new cultures.

On their strategy this season, and how their relationship has grown:

Ron: [There's a lot of] Pressure of the Race. I love it, and wanted to make sure that we didn’t get eliminated, and I wanted to make sure not to disappoint Christina, [but also] keep things in perspective. We wanted to be more uplifting. We wanted to enjoy the moment and each culture. You race at such a frenzied pace that you don’t always get to enjoy the scenery or the sights and sounds. We tried to do as much of that as possible.

Christina: We did change our game plan. As my dad said, it was all about keeping things in perspective. We decided to go on the Race because we wanted to spend time together. If most of that time is spent frantically, then it’s really not fun. Our relationship has improved because of the Race, and we’re grateful for that. I’ve learned a valuable lesson from my dad, which is: take time to smell the roses. Get a meal in India, it’s okay – we’ll still make our flight.

'Amazing Race' Exit Interview: Ron and Christina HsuThe father-daughter team explains where it all went wrong in VaranasiPosted by MSN TV

Father-and-daughter team Ron and Christina Hsu exited "The Amazing Race" last night -- despite powering through a challenging tea-tasting task last week, Ron wandered through the streets of Varanasi on a bedeviling hunt for the city's holy men ("sadus"). We talked to the pair about Ron's snacking (gleefully depicted in the show), how he nailed the tea test, and why he stumbled in search of sadu.

What happened on that sadu challenge?Ron: I took the wrong street. A local told me I should take this very circuitous route. I didn't see any sadus on the street, but I finally saw one on the riverbanks, and said "Goodness, this must be where the sadus are, because they're purifying themselves on River Ganges." I went from one end to the other -- there were cremations on both ends. That was my downfall.

Christina, what was it like when the cowboys showed up, before your father had finished?Christina: Once the cowboys showed up, we -- Mallory, Vyxsin, and me -- were all a little concerned because we know the cowboys always power through a deficit. I mostly wanted to make sure my dad was okay, and I was really happy to see him when he finished. It's always stressful when you're separated on a Roadblock task.

Varanasi looks like a difficult place to travel.Christina: My dad and I love India -- my dad says that it really brings out all the five senses. Varanasi is so different from Mumbai or Delhi. Before we went there, my dad had said it was one of his dreams to go by the River Ganges -- boom, we open up the clue, and it says go to Varanasi. It ranked up there as among our favorite places.

Ron, you crushed the last episode's tea-tasting challenge. How were you able to crack it so easily, when it destroyed a few of the other teams?Ron: I knew I had to not touch the cups, or I'd have to drink it, and I knew my body could not take too much caffeine. I was looking for the sweet smell of mango, and when I found it, the color was pretty similar to the tea we drank back in Kunming. I had remarked [in Kunming] that Chinese tea doesn't smell this sweet, and [the tea seller] said it was a mango-papaya tea. I got very lucky, after smelling 12 cups, to find it.

It seemed like you had a huge advantage in China.Ron: We were very comfortable going into China, with the language ability and our comfort level with the taxi drivers and being able to negotiate and so forth -- we just felt at home.

Christina: We did feel there were teams that needed our help interpreting, like Zev and Justin and Jen and Kisha.

Ron, this season you were shown as constantly snacking. What's up with that?Ron: I have a good appetite, and I love different foods, especially going to different countries. I just felt that with those super legs you didn't get all the foods that you wanted -- like in Li Jiang, when Phil told us to continue racing. What little food we got was from my constant snacking.

This season looks more physically intense than previous seasons. Is that fair?Christina: The physical exhaustion definitely increased. Compared to season 12, the tasks this season were about physical strength.

It looked like you two got along better this time than the first time around. Christina: My dad's one of my best friends. Our relationship has never been better.

Ron, I saw that one of your goals this season was to "uplift" your partner. Did you succeed?Ron: I was trying to be uplifting. I didn't want to disappoint Christina. We got this pressure, under the intensity of the race -- I have my moments, and there were some I wish could take back.

Christina, are you the first "Amazing Race" marriage [to fellow season 12 competitor Azaria Azene]?Christina: I don't know! I think so?

Ron: We're so lucky that Christina met her prince on the race. We're just so happy they're happy.

Would you race together? Christina: I think we'd make an excellent team. Azaria actually helped kind of get my mind in the game before I went to race again with my dad -- he's always been so supportive, even with the pressure. You know your partner's strengths and weaknesses. So, yes. We'd have a blast

When Ron Hsu, 61, and his daughter Christina, 29, first competed on The Amazing Race, they came in second place despite major communication issues. While they didn't make it to the final Pit Stop on Unfinished Business, the father-daughter team approached their "second-in-a-lifetime opportunity" with an emphasis on the journey rather than the finish line. After their elimination on Sunday's episode, Ron and Christina spoke with PEOPLE about the detour that did them in, enjoying the local cuisine, and what it was like for Ron to walk Christina down the aisle to her most important Pit Stop yet – the wedding altar! – where she married her fellow season 12 competitor Azaria Azene this spring.

You just couldn't find those 'holy men!'Ron: I was going for the gusto! I thought holy men should be near the holy river of Ganges and that was my downfall. I walked from one end of the river to the other. I should have gone back to the starting point.Christina: The Roadblocks are the most difficult on The Race because you are separated from your partner and you can't help each other out. It was really nerve-wracking when the Cowboys showed up.

You two really seemed to enjoy yourselves this time around.Christina: We made a point to keep things in perspective. We decided to do the second-chance Race because we wanted to spend more time together. It's about the experience and taking quality time out. That really helped contribute to our game – just relaxing and taking in the experience.Ron: We tried to savor the moments. Like instead of going to the airport and waiting six hours for a flight, we would go in to town and see the sights if possible.

Speaking of savoring, Ron, you enjoyed a lot of local cuisine on The Race.Ron: I like to be adventurous and see what unique flavors that they have. And on the super-legs, we were much more famished because you were expecting food at the Pit Stop but then Phil gives you a clue and tells you to keep going. So I tried to take advantage of the most economical options to save money – city street food.

And congratulations are in order, Christina, on your March wedding. How did your relationship with Azaria blossom after season 12?Christina: After filming we would talk on the phone as friends and now we've been together for over three years. I can't explain it – the gift of true love. I feel very lucky. We have a lot of common goals and values and we both love traveling, exploring, and growing. We had a great foundation.Ron: We were so grateful that Christina got to meet her prince on season 12. That's not a venue where you usually find your soulmate but we just adore Azaria.

What was it like to walk her down the aisle, Ron?Ron: It was a plethora of emotion that overwhelmed me. I just had to make sure that I didn't cry. She radiated happiness that was so infectious.Christina: I was so proud to be escorted down the aisle by my parents. We just had a ball. We're happy. Married life is good. We are so grateful for the Race bringing us together.

Getting lost in an Indian market led to elimination for Ron and Christina Hsu but the father and daughter team say they wouldn’t have changed a thing about their time on “The Amazing Race.”

“We always had our eye on the prize, we have a competitive spirit and our goal from the get go was to see the world together … even though we only made it halfway around, we’re grateful for the memories that we did have,” Christina tells CTV.ca over the phone.

The team fell behind the others during a Roadblock challenge in Varanasi that required Ron to search for colorfully-dressed sadhus (holy men) in the middle of a very crowded market to receive their next clue.

Ron says he received some bad directions from a local and ended up wandering near the Ganges River, in the opposite direction of where he needed to be.

When he finally figured out he was in the wrong spot and headed back, all the other teams had already finished the challenge.

“That was my downfall. It wasted a lot of time so I had to go back and re-trace my steps,” says Ron.

Christina says it made for a few nerve-wracking moments while waiting for her dad to finish, especially when the cowboys – who took the wrong flight and were an hour behind everyone else – breezed through the challenge and finished before them.

“It amped up (all of our) nerves when the cowboys showed up. The cowboys are a formidable team. I knew they would come back from their deficit … but I was just really glad my dad never gave up,” says Christina.

By the time Ron and Christina completed the Roadblock and the Detour challenge that followed, they were the last team to arrive at the mat and were eliminated.

“We were told later on that we weren’t that far behind (the Goths), that it was actually quite a close race so that’s why you never give up on ‘The Amazing Race,’” says Christina.

“We were hoping for a non-elimination leg or that somebody might have got lost like I did,” adds Ron.

But even though they didn’t quite match their second place finish on Season 12, Ron says spending quality time with his daughter before she got married was reward enough.

“We only see each other maybe once or twice a year. She’s been busy with her job and lives on the East Coast 3,000 miles away, so (when there was) an opportunity to race with her again, especially before she was going to get married, I felt this was a wonderful time,” says Ron.

Christina, who got married earlier this spring, valued the time with her dad just as much.

“I learned so much from him. He is not only knowledgeable on so many different topics, my dad has always lived the ‘carpe diem’ model and tried to squeeze every drop out of every day,” she says.

“That’s a really good lesson that I was able to witness and learn on this ‘Race’ with him and he really made a point to push us to take time out to (do other things).”

That included taking time out to eat good meals.

“Being an older racer I didn’t want to have a lack of energy because of (lack of) food. I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t an impediment to Christina in that regard and plus the smell and the beauty of the food there is just something that is just so wonderful,” says Ron.

He adds that Season 18 was much more physically demanding than the first time they ran the ‘Race,’ and there were less opportunities to rest up considering many of the legs continued on into “super legs.”

Christina is glad Ron encouraged her to take time out of the busy ‘Race’ schedule to experience the culture.

“There’s only so much waiting you can do for a flight, you might as well use it to spend time together. I do feel like the ‘Race’ this time around was all about keeping things in perspective and running a ‘Race’ where we both were having a good time. It’s one of those things you can never replace with money or a million dollars. It was priceless.”

TVG: Christina, what was the first thing you did when you got to the elimination station after you were cut from the Race?CH: The first thing we did when we arrived at elimination station was have breakfast with Mike and Mel, and then we went on a refreshing morning hike with Amanda, Kris and Margie.